Teenager Charged With Arson

Teenager Charged With Arson

Authorities in Prince GeorgeÆs County say they have arrested and charged a teenager who they believe set an apartment doormat on fire.

Police say they are charging the teenager with 1st-degree arson, and other possible charges.

According to officials from the Prince GeorgeÆs County Fire Investigators and the County Police Department, on Tuesday at around 10:20 p.m., the teenager allegedly set on fire a doormat of the apartment complex located at the 8700 block of Contee Road.

According to officials, within 24 hours after the fire was started, they stopped the teen in connection with a vandalism complaint in the same area of the fire.

Officials say police officers decided to detain the teen so that fire investigators could question him. The next day, officers arrested him due to the statements that he made about the apartment fire.

Police say they arrested the boy quickly since they have also been searching for the suspect who is responsible for intentionally starting seven fires throughout Laurel during March.

Those fires have caused more than $600,000 in damages, officials say.

Fire investigators say they do not believe that the teen was involved in those fires.

The identity of the suspect is not being released since he is a juvenile.

Authorities are continuing to investigate the fire allegedly started by the teen as well as the other seven fires started.

Officials of the City of Laurel say they are offering a $10,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person who is responsible for the other arson incidents.

Anyone who has information on these incidents should call the Arson Tip Line at (301)-77-ARSON (27766).